This is a list of cancelled Xbox video games. The original Xbox is a video game console released by Microsoft in 2001. It was the first console to be released by Microsoft. While the platform held its own against Nintendo's competing console the GameCube, it still tracked distantly behind Sony's PlayStation 2. With it being Microsoft's first entry into the video game industry, the original Xbox some saw hesitancy to commit to developing games for it, in fear if its potential failure, similar to efforts from Sega and Atari over the course of the decade prior. This hesitancy lead to some game cancellations in favor of its competitors. This list documents all known games that were confirmed for the original Xbox console at some point, but did not end up being released for it in any capacity.[1][2][3]

Games

Title(s) Notes/Reasons Developer Publisher
American Idol A rhythm-based video game adaption of the American Idol TV series. Released for PlayStation 2 and Windows in 2003, the Xbox version never received a commercial release. The Xbox version was leaked onto the internet in 2021 as part of the Project Deluge video game preservation effort.[3][1] Hothouse Creations Codemasters
Banjo-Kazooie remake Prior to developing Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (2008), members of Rare's team proposed creating a remake of the original Banjo-Kazooie where the characters became aware they were in a remake and repeating actions they had already done in the original game, which in effect would lead to characters acting differently and the remake branching off into very different events from the original game. The idea was rejected by management due to fears of how the game would be perceived; they feared that some would be unhappy that it wasn't completely a new game, while others would concurrently never realize how much it different from the original game.[4] Rare Microsoft
Daredevil: The Man Without Fear A video game adaption of the Daredevil franchise was in development and scheduled for release on the original Xbox and PlayStation 2 in early 2004. The player would control Daredevil himself in a third person beat em up, while the story was an adaption of the Elektra Lives Again storyline. The game experienced a troubled development cycle, including game engine and scope changes, and Sony making requests to implement Tony Hawk's Pro Skater-styled grinding gameplay mechanics. Overall franchise owner Marvel disapproved of the changes and state of the game, and cancelled it in 2004. An early playable build leaked onto the internet in 2023.[5][6] 5,000 Ft Studios Encore Inc
Hail to the Chimp A party game released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms in 2008. A version for the original Xbox was leaked onto the internet in 2021 as part of the Project Deluge video game preservation efforts.[3][2] Wideload Games Gamecock Media Group
He-Man: Defender of Grayskull A video game adaption of the He-Man franchise, the game was released in 2005 on PlayStation 2, but the Xbox version was never commercially released. The Xbox version was later leaked onto the internet in 2021 as part of the Project Deluge video game preservation efforts.[3][1] Savage Entertainment Midas Interactive Entertainment
Kameo: Elements of Power Shortly after completion of Donkey Kong 64, Rare started early work on Kameo for the Nintendo 64.[7] By the time it was publicly announced at E3 2001, development had already shifted to the GameCube.[8] In 2002, when Microsoft bought Rare, the GameCube version was cancelled and development was shifted to the original Xbox.[9] The game experienced a lengthy 4 year development period from there, leading to it being cancelled on Xbox in favor of releasing as a launch title for the Xbox 360 in 2005.[10] Rare Microsoft
Knights of Decayden Not publicly announced or generally known about until an Axios retrospective story in 2022. A game centered around aerial combat in an original fantasy world. Originally pitched under the name Knights of Utu for the PlayStation 2 in 2000, and when the developers decided to change the platform to Xbox, it went under the name Archipelago prior to arriving on its final title. The game was in development until early 2022, and had been intended to release within a year of the original Xbox's launch. The game was cancelled by Phil Spencer after Microsoft became unhapyp that the game wasn't keeping with its aggressive development time tables. Parts of the game were up and running at the time of its cancellation, though it was very unfinished, with many parts of its scope and scale still not decided upon.[11][12] Totally Games Microsoft
Made Man Originally released for the PlayStation 2 and Windows platforms across 2006 and 2007, the Xbox version never released commercially. The Xbox version was later leaked onto the internet in 2021 as part of the Project Deluge video game preservation efforts.[2] SilverBack Studios Mastertronic
Pac-Man World Rally A kart racing game featuring the Pac-Man franchise was released released for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Windows platforms in 2006, while the Xbox release was cancelled. The Xbox version was later leaked onto the internet in 2021 as part of the Project Deluge video game preservation efforts.[3][1] Smart Bomb Interactive Namco Bandai Games
The Red Star A video game adaption of The Red Star graphic novel, versions for both the original Xbox and PlayStation 2 were announced, but only the PlayStation 2 version released as scheduled in 2007. A later PlayStation Portable port released in 2010, but the Xbox version remained unreleased commercially. The Xbox version was later leaked onto the internet in 2021 as part of the Project Deluge video game preservation efforts.[3] Acclaim Studios Austin XS Games
Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder 2 Announced shortly after the release of the first Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder game, it was one of a number of games that were cancelled in late 2003 in response to publisher Activision's poor financial performance that year.[13][14] Treyarch Activision
StarCraft: Ghost Announced in 2002 for the original Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2, the game experienced a lengthy and troubled development cycle. It was cancelled across all platforms across late 2005 and 2006. While never officially released, some content from early builds of the game leaked onto the internet in 2020.[15][16] Blizzard Entertainment
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron compilation A compilation of all three Rogue Squadron games - Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader, Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike was in development by Factor 5, but cancelled by publisher LucasArts. Factor 5 tried to salvage their work by later attempting to release the trilogy on the Wii, but this was also later cancelled due to complications created from the 2008 financial crisis.[17][18] Factor 5 LucasArts
Trinity: The Shatter Effect Announced just prior to, and later present at E3 2003 as a first person shooter with "bullet time" effects found in games such as Max Payne. The title was one of a number of games that were cancelled in late 2003 in response to publisher Activision poor financial performance that year.[19][14] Gray Matter Studios Activision
The Vatz Announced in 2002 as a large scale third person action/strategy game powered by developer Beenox's proprietary "Goliath" game engine. The game's commercial release was cancelled, but an early build of the Xbox version was leaked in 2021 as part of the Project Deluge video game preservation efforts.[3][20][2][1] Beenox

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Williams, Leah J. (September 20, 2021). "Hidden Palace Just Dropped Over 500 Unreleased Game Prototypes".
  2. 1 2 3 4 Teixeira, Miri (September 20, 2021). "Hundreds of prototype Xbox and Dreamcast games uploaded by Project Deluge".
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Nearly 500 Xbox and Dreamcast prototypes plus unreleased games have been uncovered". VGC. September 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Rare had a cool idea for a Banjo-Kazooie remake". September 14, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Cancelled 2004 PS2 Daredevil Game Unearthed". IGN Nordic. November 1, 2023.
  6. ↑ Copeland, Wesley (June 27, 2016). "The Story of the Cancelled Daredevil Game". IGN.
  7. ↑ "Rare's New Making-Of Video Looks at Kameo". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  8. ↑ "Rare's Secret Title Revealed! - News". Nintendo World Report.
  9. ↑ Bouldling, Aaron (September 24, 2002). "Microsoft Buys Rare". IGN.
  10. ↑ "Xbox 360 turns 10: tales from composing Kameo". November 20, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Unearthing, Knights of Decayden a cancelled original Xbox exclusive".
  12. ↑ Wales, Matt (15 July 2022). "X-Wing dev's long-lost Xbox fantasy shooter Knights of Decayden unearthed". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  13. ↑ "Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder 2 [Articles]". IGN.
  14. 1 2 "Activision cans Trinity and other titles". November 7, 2003.
  15. ↑ "It Seems a Playable Xbox Build of StarCraft Ghost Has Leaked (Update)". 16 February 2020.
  16. ↑ Doulia, Elias 'Mithan' (November 3, 2005). "Starcraft Ghost for GameCube cancelled". IGN. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  17. ↑ "10 Most Infamous Canceled Wii Games That We Would Have Loved to Play". Screen Rant. 23 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "Canceled Star Wars Rogue Squadron Game Details Emerge".
  19. ↑ "Trinity: The Shatter Effect [Articles]". IGN.
  20. ↑ "Beenox Announces VATZ". GameZone. May 4, 2012.
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